A criminal indictment is being handed down against three youths, minors, who threated a kiosk owner and then allegedly set the store on fire.

The indictment against the three was handed down in the Tel Aviv District Court on Thursday, 7 Menachem Av, including counts of arson and interfering with a police investigation. The defendants are 15 and 16-years-old, all residents of Bnei Brak. The arson attack took place about a week and a half earlier.

Tel Aviv District prosecutor Efrat Sadeh told the court the kiosk owner filed a complaint with police in which he explains the youths routinely threatened him and stole merchandise from the store. As a result, they argued and it was then they threatened to burn down his business. Attorney Sadeh explains that on the night of July 28, 2016, they said “you will pay the price. You pushed my red button and you will play dearly”. On or about July 31st, the two plotted the arson attack. The third suspect filled an empty bottle with gasoline at a gas station, telling the attendant his father was stuck and asked him to get some fuel for him. They met a day later.

At about midnight they arrived at the kiosk, planning to set it ablaze. The indictment adds when the defendants neared the kiosk they changed clothing, set the store ablaze, then dumping the clothing they wore during the criminal act. They used a yarmulke to cover a camera they feared would document their actions.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)